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Sonia Gandhi is heaving a sigh of relief these days. All
thanks to IPL spot fixing and LK Advani as media shifted her eyes from UPA’s
corruption to spot fixing and Advani’s stiff opposition to Namonia.I will not
speak about LK Advani here because he is a very senior person and I have been
taught to respect senior citizens. Let’s talk about IPL spot fixing. Right from
IPL season I, prima facie IPL was a game of capital and its investors. This
year IPL completed its sixth season. As the money game was ongoing, Sreesanth
and two other players made the cricket fans aware what is the definition of
IPL.As the investigation proceeded Mumbai police and Delhi police alleged involvement
of some big names in IPL.Investigation brought Vindoo Dara Singh in media after
his big boss days. Very few of us were aware of Gurunath Meiyappan.Now Gurunath
has got a celebrity status. The question arises is why our Indian cricket in
particular and Indian sports in general has caused severe discomfiture and
ignominy at global level. Already we were suffering from UPA’s corruption. To
add salt on our wounds came the IPL spot fixing. Something needs to be done
immediately to save our sports and young sportsperson’s career. It feels very
bad to see young cricketers who are paid a good amount to play honestly indulge
in such unfair activities. But how can we save sports and bring transparency in
sports?
The first important thing that needs to be done is to
separate sports from politicians. Half of the work to bring transparency in
sports will be done when politicians are barred from having any interest in sports.
For instance, Rajiv Shukla was the IPL commissioner during IPL-6.Now this is a
question everyone should think. What does Rajiv Shukla know about cricket? I
think he know how cricket is played, how much over a one day match has, how
many players are there in a team. We all know this. Does Shukla know anything
to prevent match fixing in ongoing match.No.Only person who know how fixing can
be prevented in ongoing match is by appointing former cricketers like Anil
Kumble or Kapil Dev as head of IPL.They played cricket on field and they know
the apparent chances of fixing in any match which can be prevented. Had Shukla
been a cricketer instead of politician, spot fixing might have hindered. Same
is the case with N Srinivasan.He is heading BCCI.Currently resigned till the
investigation is completed. What does he know about cricket? Can he even run on
cricket pitch as Sachin runs at the age of 40.No.He is not having a single
attribute in him to be head of BCCI.Secondly he is owning CSK and at the same
time heading BCCI.No one can deny conflict of interest in this. We can’t stop
him from owning CSK as it will violate his constitutional rights but yes system
and rules can stop such person from heading BCCI.Strictly speaking, politicians
and entrepreneurs should be prohibited from heading bodies like BCCI.Only
Sports Ministry should have a say in policy making relating to sports and no official
of sports ministry should occupy any postion in sports bodies.
India’s national game is hockey. But we are still paying more
attention only on England’s national game. Why can’t we think beyond cricket?
If we have two matches in a day. One in cricket and another in hockey between
same two teams, say India and Pakistan. No doubt we will forego our national
game and give much respect to our one time harsh ruler’s game. According to me
every sport should be given equivalent status. For this, it is necessary for
the parents and the teachers to teach our kids the honesty and integrity in playing
any sports. More important they should be made aware that there are games
beyond cricket. Parents mostly think their son should become cricketer like
Sachin Tendulkar.Why can’t parents say them to be like sportsperson’s
Vishwanath Anand or PT Usha or Dhanraj Pillay or Dhyan Chand or Sania Nehwal.The
problem starts right from our home by giving undue importance only to cricket.
It is no secret fact that cricket is a prominent game in India because BCCI spend
exorbitant money on its promotion. It should be examined from where does BCCI
gets such a huge amount of money. They should be brought under RTI ambit .Since
other sports bodies have vey less amount of fund with them it is apparent that
other sports are sidelined completely. Why mostly cricketers are brand ambassadors
of our products that we use? Why sportsman from hockey, chess or cycling can’t
can be the brand ambassador?
Now after IPL betting incident, law ministry is working to
bring a harsh law to prevent any kind of betting in sports. Instead of this why
can’t they think to make betting legal? If it is made illegal in sports,
bookies will turn their face on election. Will they ban election then making a
mockery of democracy? Then they will turn their face to any other issues.
Instead by making betting legal subjected to some terms and conditions why can’t
government think to increase revenue and employment? We know that betting on horse
racing is legal. The volume of betting and revenue to government is satisfactory.
By making betting illegal in sports, betting on horse racing will also be made
illegal if this law is brought in force. Implementing above steps can’t make
Indian sports transparent overnight but it will build confidence in general
public that sports is played honestly which will directly or indirectly bring
transparency and accountability in sports.
